Broad-winged Hawk in St. Louis County
2017-11-14

Common in St. Louis County in the Fall season

This juvenile Broad-winged Hawk was found on Park Point early this afternoon by Alan Moss. I finally refound the bird at 4:20 PM and since it was a dreary, overcast day, I had to adjust the levels in this image to bring out plumage details. The bird was alert and actively scanning for prey, and showed no signs of injury when it flew away 10 minutes later. November records of this species in Minnesota are few and far between, and most are undocumented sight records. The latest north record is from Karl Bardon at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Duluth, 15 November 2009 (The Loon 82:63). Cameron Rutt saw one that same fall near 60th Ave East in Duluth, 05 November 2009 (unpublished). The only other north report in November was from Craig Menze in Pine County, 02 November 1996 (The Loon 69:70). There are about a half-dozen November reports from southern Minnesota.

Peder H. Svingen